General-Biology-1

Introduction to Biology

  • Biology: The study of life and living organisms.

  • Biologist: A person who studies biology.

Brief History of Biology

  • Aristotle: Greek philosopher; first to classify living things by their environment (air, land, water) - known as the Father of Biology.

  • Galen: Greek physician; first to dissect apes and pigs - known as the Father of Anatomy.

  • Andreas Vesalius: Conducted the first human anatomy dissection; known for Comparative Anatomy.

  • William Harvey: Demonstrated that the heart pumps blood and shows circulation.

  • Marcello Malphigi: Italian physician and anatomist; founder of microscopic anatomy.

  • Anton Van Leeuwenhoek: First to use a microscope and discovered microorganisms, termed "animalcules."

  • Charles Darwin: Authored "On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection."

Divisions of Biology

  • Major Divisions:

    • Botany: Study of plants.

    • Zoology: Study of animals.

Botany Subfields

  • Dendrology: Study of trees.

  • Mycology: Study of fungi.

  • Paleobotany: Study of fossil plants.

  • Phytopathology: Study of plant diseases.

  • Agriculture: Principles of botany for food plants.

  • Pomology: Cultivation of fruits.

Zoology Subfields

  • Arachnology: Study of arachnids (spiders, scorpions).

  • Conchology: Study of mollusks.

  • Embryology: Study of animal development.

  • Entomology: Study of insects.

  • Herpetology: Study of reptiles.

  • Mammalogy: Study of mammals.

  • Ornithology: Study of birds.

  • Ichthyology: Study of fishes.

Branches of Biology

  • Anatomy: Study of the structure of organisms (e.g., human anatomy).

  • Physiology: Study of bodily functions and processes.

  • Ecology: Study of interactions between organisms and their environments.

  • Parasitology: Study of organisms living on or in other organisms that cause diseases.

  • Taxonomy: Classification and evolutionary relationships among organisms.

Categories of Organisms

  • ANIMALIA, PLANTAE, FUNGI: Multicellular eukaryotic organisms.

  • PROTISTA: Eukaryotic, unicellular and multicellular organisms.

  • EUBACTERIA, ARCHAEBACTERIA: Unicellular prokaryotic organisms.

Other Fields of Study

  • Embryology: Development and growth of organisms.

  • Cytology: Structures and functions of cells.

  • Microbiology: Study of microorganisms (bacteria, protozoans, viruses).

  • Paleontology: Study of fossils.

  • Genetics: Study of inheritance and traits.

  • Morphology: Study of structures and forms (e.g., morphology of a bee).

  • Histology: Study of tissues.